Adjustable vehicle roof

ABSTRACT

A vehicle includes a compartment, roof, roof system, cover, cover link, and coupling system. The roof is movable between a closed position and a storage position in which the roof is within the compartment. The roof system has a main link movably coupled to the vehicle via a joint and connected to the roof to move the roof. The cover is movable between a closed position covering the compartment and an opened position raised from the compartment. The cover link is movably coupled to the vehicle via a joint and connected to the cover to move the cover. The coupling system has a connecting link coupling the links such that the cover is coupled to the roof system to move about the cover link joint as the roof moves. The connecting link passes through a position in which it and the joints run along a straight line during roof movement.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No.11/696,042, filed Apr. 3, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,455,346, whichclaims foreign priority benefits under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) to DE 102006 016 853.4, filed Apr. 7, 2006, which are hereby incorporated byreference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a convertible vehicle having a roofkinematic system which movably couples a roof to the vehicle body to bemovable between a closed position in which the roof extends over andcovers the vehicle interior and a storage position in which the roof islowered into and stored within a storage compartment of the vehicle.

2. Background Art

DE 103 31 987 A1 (corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 6,962,386) describes aconvertible vehicle having a multiple part roof. A roof kinematic systemmoves the roof between a closed position in which the roof parts extendover and cover the vehicle interior and a storage position in which theroof parts are lowered into and stored within a storage compartment ofthe vehicle. A cover is movably connected to the vehicle to open andclose the compartment. The cover is lowered to close the compartmentwith the roof stored therein. The cover is raised to provide access forthe roof to be moved into and out of the compartment. The cover iskinematically connected, through a connecting link and a transfer link,with a main link of the roof kinematic system. The connecting andtransfer links form a kinematic chain such that movement of the mainlink about its vehicle body-side joint transfers movement to the coverand the cover is raised about its vehicle body-side joint. The cover hasalong its side edges, extending in the longitudinal direction of thevehicle, a guide slot in which a pin of the connecting link is slidablysupported. As an actuator moves the roof kinematic system, theconnecting link swivels about a vehicle body-side joint and the pin isguided along in the guide slot on the cover thereby raising the cover.The transfer of movement from the roof kinematic system through thecoupling kinematic system to the cover presumes a sliding block guide inthe side area of the cover.

DE 101 17 767 A1 describes a cover kinematically coupled to the roofkinematic system. The cover functions as a rear parcel shelf thatextends within the vehicle interior beneath the rear roof part when theroof is in the closed position. A coupling kinematic system couples thecover to the roof kinematic system. The coupling kinematic system is anover-center kinematic system which crosses a dead-center position whenthe roof moves between its closed and storage positions, after which theswinging up movement of the cover to open a passage into the compartmentreverses and the cover is closed again. However, the coupling kinematicsystem is complicated, having six links which control the movement ofthe cover. At first, the swinging movement of the main link of the roofkinematic system is transferred through a torsionally rigid lever toanother intermediate lever, which makes a swinging connection with abody-mounted coupling lever, which in turn is articulately connected toa transfer lever of the cover link. Moreover, a body-mounted controllever makes a swinging connection with the transfer lever of the coverlink.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is using simple measures tokinematically couple the movement of a storage compartment cover to themovement of a roof of a convertible vehicle as the roof moves betweenclosed and storage positions.

In carrying out the above object and other objects, the presentinvention provides a vehicle having a compartment, a roof, a roofkinematic system, a cover, a cover link, and a coupling kinematicsystem. The roof has a plurality of roof parts and is movable between aclosed position in which the roof parts extend over the vehicle interiorand a storage position in which the roof parts are stored within thecompartment. The roof kinematic system has a main link movably coupledto the vehicle body via a vehicle body-side joint and connected to atleast one of the roof parts to move the roof between the closed andstorage roof positions. The cover is movable between a closed positionin which the cover covers the compartment and an opened position inwhich the cover is raised from the compartment. The cover link ismovably coupled to the vehicle body via a vehicle body-side joint andconnected to the cover to move the cover between the closed and openedcover positions. The coupling kinematic system has a connecting linkcoupling the main link of the roof kinematic system to the cover linksuch that the cover is coupled to the roof kinematic system to moveabout the vehicle body-side joint of the cover link as the roof movesbetween the closed and storage roof positions. The connecting linkpasses through a lined-up position in which the connecting link and thevehicle body-side joints of the main link and the cover link run along astraight line during movement of the roof between the closed and storageroof positions.

Further, in carrying out the above object and other objects, the presentinvention provides a roof assembly for a vehicle having a compartmentand a cover movable between a closed position in which the cover coversthe compartment and an opened position in which the cover is raised fromthe compartment. The roof assembly includes a roof, a roof kinematicsystem, a cover link, and a coupling kinematic system. The roof has aplurality of roof parts. The roof is movable between a closed positionin which the roof parts extend over the vehicle interior and a storageposition in which the roof parts are stored within the compartment. Theroof kinematic system has a main link movably coupled to the vehiclebody via a vehicle body-side joint and connected to at least one of theroof parts to move the roof between the closed and storage roofpositions. The cover link is movably coupled to the vehicle body via avehicle body-side joint and connected to the cover to move the coverbetween the closed and opened cover positions. The coupling kinematicsystem has a connecting link coupling the main link of the roofkinematic system to the cover link such that the cover is coupled to theroof kinematic system to move about the vehicle body-side joint of thecover link as the roof moves between the closed and storage roofpositions. The connecting link passes through a lined-up position inwhich the connecting link and the vehicle body-side joints of the mainlink and the cover link run along a straight line during movement of theroof between the closed and storage roof positions.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the coupling kinematic systemthrough which the movement of the roof kinematic system is transferredto the cover exclusively consists of links that are connected to oneanother or with the roof kinematic system and the cover through joints.This transmission path between the roof kinematic system and the coverhas a maximum of three links including a connecting link. The connectinglink is directly pivotably coupled to the cover and is a component ofthe coupling kinematic system. The connecting link passes through alined-up or dead-center position in which the connecting link and thevehicle body-side joints of the roof kinematic system and the cover link(i.e., the cover kinematic system) form a straight line when the roofmoves between its closed and storage positions.

This embodiment has various advantages. First, it is possible to buildsmall kinematic systems as the use of exclusively rotatable links meansthat only relatively little space is required and relatively littlemovement space is required for the coupling kinematic system.Translational displacements, which require more space and/or elaboratesliding block guides are unnecessary. Second, rotational coupling of thelinks among one another and/or with the cover and/or the roof kinematicsystem simplifies the structure over prior-art designs.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the coupling kinematic systemincludes the connecting link. The connecting link makes a pivotingconnection with the cover through a joint at one end and makes apivoting connection through another joint at the other end with acomponent of the roof kinematic system. For instance, the component ofthe roof kinematic system is a main link of the roof kinematic system.This embodiment represents a simple construction having a minimum numberof moving components.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the coupling kinematic systemincludes a coupling link in addition to the connecting link. One end ofthe coupling link makes a pivoting connection with the connecting link.The other end of the connecting link makes a pivoting connection with acomponent (such as the main link) of the roof kinematic system. For anunambiguously determined transfer of movement it can be advantageous tosupport the coupling link on a vehicle body-side joint, for example by asupport link, or to mount the coupling link itself directly through avehicle body-side joint.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the link of the couplingkinematic system that is coupled to the roof kinematic systemadvantageously acts on the roof kinematic system at a distance from thevehicle body-side joint of the main link so that the lever motionbetween the body-mounted axis of rotation of the main link and the jointto the coupling kinematic system functions as a control movement for thecover. It is advantageous for the connection or coupling link of thecoupling kinematic system to act directly on the main link of the roofkinematic system. Alternatively it is also possible to connect thecoupling kinematic system through another lever or link of the roofkinematic system.

The above features, and other features and advantages of the presentinvention as readily apparent from the following detailed descriptionsthereof when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a roof having front and rearroof parts in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention inwhich the roof is movable between a closed position shown in FIG. 1 inwhich the roof parts extend over and cover the interior of a vehicle anda storage position in which the roof parts are folded together, lowered,and stored in a storage compartment of the vehicle with a movable covercovering the compartment;

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of a roof kinematic system for moving theroof between its closed and storage positions, a cover link kinematicsystem for moving the cover between a cover position in which the covercovers the compartment and an opened position in which the coveruncovers the compartment, and a coupling kinematic system whichkinematically couples the roof and cover kinematic systems in which theroof and the cover are in their respective closed positions;

FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of the kinematic systems when the roof isbeginning to move from its closed position to its storage position withthe cover swung open towards its opened position;

FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of the kinematic systems when the roof isfurther advanced towards its storage position with the joints of aconnecting link of the coupling kinematic system and a vehicle body-sidejoint of a main link of the roof kinematic system being lined up;

FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of the kinematic systems when the roof isin its storage position with the main link of the roof kinematic systemalso being stored in the compartment and the cover being in its closedposition covering the compartment;

FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic of the cover and the kinematic systemswhen the roof is in its closed position (indicated by solid lines) andwhen the roof is in its storage position (indicated by dashed lines)with the cover being in the same closed position in both situations;

FIG. 7 illustrates a schematic of the cover and the kinematic systemswhen the roof is in its closed position (indicated by solid lines) andwhen the roof is in its storage position (indicated by dashed lines)with the cover being in a vertically lower closed position when the roofis in its closed position than when the roof is in its storage position;

FIG. 8 illustrates a schematic of the cover and the kinematic systemswhen the roof is in its closed position (indicated by solid lines) andwhen the roof is in its storage position (indicated by dashed lines)with the cover being in a vertically higher closed position when theroof is in its closed position than when the roof is in its storageposition;

FIGS. 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 illustrate side views of the roof havinganother embodiment of the coupling kinematic system in accordance withthe present invention in which the coupling kinematic system has threepivoting links shown between the closed position of the roof (shown inFIG. 9) and the storage position of the roof (shown in FIG. 13); and

FIGS. 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19 illustrate side views of the roofhaving another embodiment of the coupling kinematic system in accordancewith the present invention shown between the closed position of the roof(shown in FIG. 14) and the storage position of the roof (shown in FIG.19).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

The figures denote like components by the same reference numerals.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a perspective view of a roof 2 having rigidfront and rear roof parts 3, 4 in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention is shown. Roof 2 is movable between a closed positionshown in FIG. 1 in which roof parts 3, 4 extend over and cover theinterior of a convertible vehicle 1 and a storage position in which roofparts 3, 4 are folded together, lowered, and stored in a storagecompartment 8 of vehicle 2. A movable cover 6 covers compartment 8. Rearroof part 4 includes a rear window 5. In the closed position of roof 2as shown in FIG. 1, front roof part 3 borders a windshield frame 7 ofvehicle 1.

In this embodiment, roof 2 is a hardtop roof having two roof parts. Inother embodiments, roof 2 may be a soft top with a cloth stretched overa frame assembly and/or roof 2 may have more than two roof parts.

Storage compartment 8 of vehicle 1 holds roof parts 3, 4 therein whenroof 2 is in its stored position. Cover 6 is movably connected to thevehicle body so as to swing through a vehicle body-side joint to openand close relative to the top side of compartment 8. In its closedposition, cover 6 extends horizontally over compartment 8 and closes offcompartment 8. In its opened position, cover 6 is swung up fromcompartment 8 to allow access into and out of compartment 8. As such,cover 6 is moved from its closed position to its opened position toallow roof parts 3, 4 to move into and out from compartment 8 when roofis moving between its closed and storage positions. After roof 2 isstored in compartment 8, cover 6 is moved back from its opened positionto its closed position. In its closed position, cover 6 lies beneathrear roof part 4 within the interior of vehicle 1. Cover 6 functions asa rear parcel shelf that extends within the vehicle interior beneathrear roof part 4 when roof 2 is in its closed position.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 5, an embodiment of a roof kinematicsystem 9 for moving roof 2 between its closed and storage positions, acover kinematic system 17 for moving cover 6 between its closed andopened positions, and a coupling kinematic system 12 which kinematicallycouples roof kinematic system 9 and cover kinematic system 17 togetheris shown. FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of kinematic systems 9, 17, and12 when roof 2 and cover 6 are in their respective closed positions.FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of kinematic systems 9, 17, and 12 whenroof 2 is beginning to move from its closed position to its storageposition with cover 6 swung open towards its opened position. FIG. 4illustrates a side view of kinematic systems 9, 17, and 12 when roof 2is further advanced towards its storage position with joints 14, 15 of aconnecting link 13 of coupling kinematic system 12 and a vehiclebody-side joint 11 of a main link 10 of roof kinematic system 9 beinglined up. FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of kinematic systems 9, 17, and12 when roof 2 is in its storage position with main link 10 of roofkinematic system 9 also being stored in compartment 8 and cover 6 beingin its closed position covering compartment 8.

Roof kinematic system 9 is coupled to at least one of roof parts 3, 4 tomove roof 2 between its closed and storage positions. Main link 10 ofroof kinematic system 9 is pivotably attached to the vehicle body viavehicle body-side joint 11. Main link 10 swings about the axis ofrotation of joint 11 back toward the rear of vehicle 1 as shown by thedirection of arrow 19 in FIG. 2 into compartment 8 in order to move roof2 from its closed position (shown in FIG. 2) to its storage position(shown in FIG. 5). Cover 6 swings up from compartment 8 in the oppositedirection of main link 10 in order to enable roof 2 and main link 10 tomove into compartment 8.

Cover kinematic system 17 is a cover link 17 which is coupled to cover6. Cover link 17 is pivotably coupled to the vehicle body via a vehiclebody-side joint 18.

Coupling kinematic system 12 is between roof kinematic system 9 andcover kinematic system 17 (i.e., cover link 17). Coupling kinematicsystem 12 couples the movement of cover link 17 to the movement of roofkinematic system 9. In this embodiment, coupling kinematic system 12includes only connecting link 13. One end of connecting link 13 isconnected through a joint 14 that can pivot on a projection 16 of mainlink 10. The other end of connecting link 13 is pivotably connected withcover link 17 through another joint 15. Connecting link 13 does notundergo any other movements. Main link projection 16 is connected to themain section of main link 10. Joint 14 between main link projection 16and connecting link 13 is arranged at a distance from vehicle body-sidejoint 11 of main link 10. The connection through coupling kinematicsystem 12 moves cover 6 in a kinematically unambiguous manner as afunction of the movement of roof 2. The movement of roof 2 is producedthrough a swinging movement of roof kinematic system 9. As such, theconnection through coupling kinematic system 12 moves cover 6 in akinematically unambiguous manner as a function of movement of roofkinematic system 9.

In this embodiment, the axes of rotation are arranged parallel to oneanother and run in the transverse direction of vehicle 1. Viewed in thevertical direction and forward direction of vehicle 1, vehicle body-sidejoint 11 of main link 10 of roof kinematic system 9 lies beneath andbehind vehicle body-side joint 18 of cover link 17.

FIG. 3 illustrates kinematic systems 9, 17, and 12 in a firstintermediate position as roof 2 moves from its closed position to itsstorage position. Main link 10 of roof kinematic system has alreadyswung a little toward the back, in the direction of the storageposition, and at the same time cover 6 has been moved about its vehiclebody-side joint 18 into a swung-up position. The swinging movements ofmain link 10 and cover 6 are oriented opposite to one another. Theswinging of cover 6 creates space for the storage movement of roof 2 andopens a passage into compartment 8. Cover 6 at least partly covers theopening of compartment 8 when roof 2 is in either of its closed orstorage positions.

FIG. 4 shows coupling kinematic system 12 in a lined-up or dead-centerposition. In this lined-up position, two end joints 14, 15 of connectinglink 13 lie in a line with vehicle body-side joint 11 of main link 10.The lined-up position is the position in which cover 6 is swung into itsfurthest opened position. Once the lined-up position is passed, themovement of cover 6 is reversed and cover 6 is once again swung back inthe direction of its closed position. This closing movement of cover 6being in the same direction as the storage movement of roof kinematicsystem 9 and roof parts 3, 4.

In FIG. 5, the storage position of roof 2 has been reached in which roof2 and main link 10 are stored in compartment 8. Cover 6 has once againreached its horizontal closed position covering the top side ofcompartment 8. This position of cover 6 may coincide or slightly differfrom the starting closed position of cover 6 which is associated withthe closed position of roof 2.

Referring now to FIGS. 6, 7, and 8, various situations in which cover 6is found when roof 2 is in its closed and stored positions are shown.Cover 6 is indicated by a solid line when roof 2 is in its closedposition. Cover 6 is indicated by a dashed line when roof 2 is in itsstorage position.

More particularly, FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic of cover 6 and roofkinematic system 9, coupling kinematic system 9, and cover kinematicsystem 17 when roof 2 is in its closed position (indicated by solidlines) and when roof 2 is in its storage position (indicated by dashedlines) with cover 6 being in the same closed position in bothsituations. FIG. 7 illustrates a schematic of cover 6 and kinematicsystems 9, 12, and 17 when roof 2 is in its closed position (indicatedby solid lines) and when roof 2 is in its storage position (indicated bydashed lines) with cover 6 being in a vertically lower closed positionwhen roof 2 is in its closed position than when roof 2 is in its storageposition. FIG. 8 illustrates a schematic of cover 6 and kinematicsystems 9, 12, and 17 when roof 2 is in its closed position (indicatedby solid lines) and when roof 2 is in its storage position (indicated bydashed lines) with cover 6 being in a vertically higher closed positionwhen roof 2 is in its closed position than when roof 2 is in its storageposition.

As such, FIG. 6 shows an embodiment in which cover 6 assumes the sameposition when roof 2 is in either of the closed and storage positions.By contrast, the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 provides that when roof 2 isin its storage position, cover 6 is in a position above that which isassociated with the closed position of roof 2. FIG. 8 shows the reverse:when roof 2 is in its storage position, cover 6 lies in a positionbeneath that which is associated with the closed position of roof 2.

Referring now to FIGS. 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13, side views of roof 2having another embodiment of coupling kinematic system 12 through whichthe movement of main link 10 of roof kinematic system 9 is transferredto cover 6 in accordance with the present invention are shown. FIG. 9illustrates roof kinematic system 9, coupling kinematic system 12, andcover kinematic system 17 when roof 2 is in its closed position. FIG. 13illustrates kinematic systems 9, 12, and 17 when roof 2 is in itsstorage position.

In this embodiment, coupling kinematic system 12 includes three pivotinglinks. In particular, coupling kinematic system 12 includes a couplinglink 20 and a support link 22 in addition to connecting link 13. Theadvantage of this embodiment, with coupling kinematic system 12 havingthree links between roof kinematic system 9 and cover kinematic system17 (i.e., cover link 17), which can pivot about body-side joint 18, isthat it allows greater geometric freedom with respect to the choice ofthe links' pivot points.

FIG. 9 illustrates roof 2 in its closed position in which cover 6 is ina horizontal starting position directly beneath rear roof part 4. Mainlink 10 swings about vehicle body-side joint 11 toward the back whenroof kinematic system 9 actuates, as is indicated in FIG. 9 by thedirection of arrow 19, automatically causing coupling kinematic system12 to move cover 6 into an upright position. This movement iskinematically unambiguous without extra degrees of freedom. Connectinglink 13 acts on cover link 17 through joint 15 to adjust cover 6, whichis coupled to cover link 17, through vehicle body-side joint 18 into aswung-up position (shown in FIGS. 10, 11, and 12). The upright swingingmovement of cover 6 about vehicle body-side joint 18 is in the directionopposite the storage movement of main link 10 of roof kinematic system9.

On the side opposite of cover link 17, connecting link 13 is rotatablyconnected through joint 14 with coupling link 20. Coupling link 20 isrotatably coupled on the opposite face through another joint 21 so thatit can pivot with main link projection 16. To bind extra degrees offreedom of movement, coupling link 20 is supported with respect to thevehicle body through support link 22. One end of support link 22 ispivotably connected through joint 24 with coupling link 20. The otherend of support link 22 is pivotably attached through a vehicle body-sidejoint 23 to the vehicle body.

During the storage movement of roof 2, coupling kinematic system 12passes through a dead-center or lined-up position (shown in FIG. 11). Inthe lined-up position, joints 14, 15 at the ends of connecting link 13lie in a common line with joint 21 between coupling link 20 and mainlink projection 16. This lined-up position simultaneously characterizesthe position in which cover 6 is swung the furthest upward. If main link10 swings further about its vehicle body-side joint 11 in the directionof the storage position, then coupling kinematic system 12 crosses thelined-up position and cover 6 is pivoted back in the direction of itsoriginal horizontal starting position (shown in FIG. 13). This endposition of cover 6 corresponds to that of the starting position whenroof 2 is closed, but can slightly deviate from it and lie above orbelow the starting position as described with reference to FIGS. 6, 7,and 8.

Also in this embodiment, vehicle body-side joint 18 of cover 6 liesabove vehicle body-side joint 11 of main link 10 and further forwardwhen viewed in the forward direction of vehicle 1.

Referring now to FIGS. 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19, side views of roof 2having another embodiment of coupling kinematic system 12 through whichthe movement of main link 10 of roof kinematic system 9 is transferredto cover 6 in accordance with the present invention are shown. FIG. 14illustrates roof kinematic system 9, coupling kinematic system 12, andcover kinematic system 17 when roof 2 is in its closed position. FIG. 19illustrates kinematic systems 9, 12, and 17 when roof 2 is in itsstorage position.

Roof kinematic system 9 with main link 10 that can swing about vehiclebody-side joint 11 holds roof 2 with roof parts 3, 4. In the closedposition of roof 2 (shown in FIG. 14), the approximately horizontalcover 6 extends directly beneath rear roof part 4 to its lower edge. Asealing element 31 is on the inside along the lower edge of rear roofpart 4 to provide a wind-tight and watertight seal against cover 6.

Cover 6 can swing about vehicle body-side joint 18. Coupling kinematicsystem 12 kinematically couples the rotating movements of main link 10and cover 6. During the storage movement of roof 2, main link 10 swingsabout vehicle body-side joint 11, as shown by the direction of arrow 19.At the same time cover 6, which is attached to cover link 17, swings inthe opposite direction about vehicle body-side joint 18. Couplingkinematic system 12 includes, in addition to connecting link 13, whichacts in a swiveling manner on cover link 17 through joint 15, firstcoupling link 20, a first support link 22, a second coupling link 29,and a second support link 25. First and second support links 22, 25 aresupported on the vehicle body.

The end of connecting link 13 remote from cover link 17 is connectedthrough joint 14 with first coupling link 20. First coupling link 20 isT-shaped in this embodiment. Joint 14 to connecting link 13 is locatedon the middle section of the T. First coupling link 20 has on itstransverse section two other joints 24 and 27. Joint 24 is rotatablycoupled to first support link 22. In turn, first support link 22 issupported through body-side joint 23. The opposite joint 27 is rotatablycoupled to second support link 25. In turn, second support link 25 issupported on the vehicle body through a vehicle body-side joint 26.Second support link 25 has an acute angle with vehicle body-side joint26 being located in the middle section of second support link 25.Opposite joint 27, through which the connection is made with firstcoupling link 20, second support link 25 makes a rotating connectionwith second coupling link 29 through another joint 28. The end of secondcoupling link 29 remote from second support link 25 makes a rotatingconnection with main link projection 10 through another joint 30. Thisjoint 30 is separated from vehicle body-side joint 11 of main link 10.

The two vehicle body-side joints 23 and 26 on first and second supportlinks 22 and 25, respectively, when taken together with joints 24 and 27of coupling link 20 that lies between them and connects them form afour-bar mechanism. Main link 10 drives the four-bar mechanism throughsecond coupling link 29. An advantage of this embodiment is that joint14, through which the middle section of first coupling link 20 makes arotating connection with first connecting link 13, at first, during theinitial storage movement of roof 2, describes a rotation about theopposite joint 15, through which first connecting link 13 makes arotating connection to cover link 17, so that during this initialstorage movement of roof 2 at first there is no transfer of motion tocover link 17 despite the movement of coupling kinematic system 12 andcover 6 remains in its starting position at first. This situation isshown in FIG. 15.

During the course of further roof storage movement shown in FIGS. 16,17, 18, and 19, the movement starts to be effectively transferredthrough coupling kinematic system 12 to cover 6 so that cover 6 is swungup about its vehicle body-side joint 18 in the opposite direction to thestorage movement of main link 10. In the maximally swung-up position(shown in FIG. 17) coupling kinematic system 12 reaches a lined-up ordead-center position. In this dead-center position, joints 24, 27 offirst coupling link 20, which connect first coupling link 20 to firstsupport link 22 and second support link 25, line up with vehiclebody-side joint 26 of second support link 25. When this lined-upposition is passed, the movement of cover 6 is reversed and cover nowmoves in the same direction as main link 10 as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19back in the direction of its starting position. As soon as roof 2,including roof kinematic system 9, has reached the storage position(FIG. 19), cover 6 also reaches its at least approximately horizontalfinal position, which coincides with or slightly deviates from itsstarting position when roof 2 is closed so that a final position aboveor below the starting position is also possible.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

-   1 Convertible vehicle-   2 Vehicle roof-   3 Front roof part-   4 Rear roof part-   5 Rear window-   6 Cover-   7 Windshield frame-   8 Storage compartment-   9 Roof kinematic system-   10 Main link-   11 Vehicle body-side joint-   12 Coupling kinematic system-   13 Connecting link-   14 Joint-   15 Joint-   16 Projection-   17 Cover link-   18 Vehicle body-side joint-   19 Arrow direction-   20 Coupling link-   21 Joint-   22 Support link-   23 Body-side joint-   24 Joint-   25 Second support link-   26 Vehicle body-side joint-   27 Joint-   28 Joint-   29 Second coupling link-   30 Joint-   31 Sealing element

While embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated anddescribed, it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate anddescribe all possible forms of the present invention. Rather, the wordsused in the specification are words of description rather thanlimitation, and it is understood that various changes may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

1. A vehicle comprising: a compartment; a roof having a plurality ofroof parts, the roof being movable between a closed position in whichthe roof parts extend over the vehicle interior and a storage positionin which the roof parts are stored within the compartment; a roofkinematic system having a main link movably coupled to the vehicle bodyvia a vehicle body-side joint and connected to at least one of the roofparts to move the roof between the closed and storage roof positions; acover movable between a closed position in which the cover covers thecompartment and an opened position in which the cover is raised from thecompartment; a cover link movably coupled to the vehicle body via avehicle body-side joint and connected to the cover to move the coverbetween the closed and opened cover positions; and a coupling kinematicsystem having a connecting link coupling the main link of the roofkinematic system to the cover link such that the cover is coupled to theroof kinematic system to move about the vehicle body-side joint of thecover link as the roof moves between the closed and storage roofpositions, wherein the connecting link passes through a lined-upposition in which the connecting link and the vehicle body-side jointsof the main link and the cover link run along a straight line duringmovement of the roof between the closed and storage roof positions. 2.The vehicle of claim 1 wherein: one end of the connecting link isrotatably connected to the cover and the other end of the connectinglink is rotatably connected to the roof kinematic system.
 3. The vehicleof claim 1 wherein: the coupling kinematic system further includes acoupling link, wherein one end of the coupling link is rotatablyconnected to the connecting link and the other end of the coupling linkis rotatably connected to the roof kinematic system.
 4. The vehicle ofclaim 3 wherein: the coupling link is movably connected to the vehiclebody via a vehicle body-side joint.
 5. The vehicle of claim 4 wherein:the coupling kinematic system further includes a support link; whereinthe vehicle body-side joint of the coupling link is arranged on one endof the support link and the other end of the support link is rotatablyconnected to the coupling link.
 6. The vehicle of claim 4 wherein: thevehicle body-side joint of the coupling link is located directly on thecoupling link.
 7. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein: the connecting link ofthe coupling kinematic system is coupled directly to the roof kinematicsystem.
 8. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein: the vehicle body-side jointof the cover link is vertically arranged above the vehicle body-sidejoint of the roof kinematic system.
 9. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein:the vehicle body-side joint of the cover link is arranged in front ofthe vehicle body-side joint of the roof kinematic system along forwardtravel direction of the vehicle.
 10. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein: asthe roof moves between the closed and storage roof positions, the mainlink of the roof kinematic system and the cover execute movements inopposite directions until the coupling kinematic system reaches thelined-up position and after the lined-up position is crossed the mainlink and the cover execute movements in the same direction.
 11. Thevehicle of claim 1 wherein: the vehicle body-side joint of the coverlink is arranged in front of the vehicle body-side joint of the roofkinematic system along forward travel direction of the vehicle.